Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-12


ing commission on the staff o; the governor with
the rank OF colonel but in the Society he is known
as lieutenant the rank he held during the war.
Col DufIied delivered his ciean-cut sentences In
voice clear, penetrating and musical, and With
an impressive manner. lie gave rapid review of
the operations or the Army ~ the cumberland.
'The victory 1t Mil Springs" he said, .'the nrs.
battle OF our civil war in winch a matiIred plan
was consistently and successfully executed; the
rescue OF the field at Shiloh by the timely arrival
OF the soldiers OF the Army OF the Cumberland,
under Gen. Buell.; the voluntary and most oppor-
tune advance OF Changers and steedmaL's troops
10 Thomas relief at Chickamauga: the assault and
capture 'rithom orders OF Missionary Ridge by the
Army OF the Cumberland, TO relieve sherman In
his trouble at the northern end; ana last, but
most typical or all, the faultless support and
operation OF The various commands at the crown
ing battle OF Nashville all illustrate and evidence
the united and cordial feeling between all branches
OF our army. surely victory must eInbazon the
banners OF such an army united by such Ties
THE ASSAULT on MISSIONARY RIDGE.
after saying that the character OF the Army OF
the Cumberland was but slowly appreciated, and
the greatness OF its achievements was not ut tic
time fully realized, Col. Duied said the con-
Queror, Grant, doubted US a little AT Chattanooga,
and told Gen. Sherman '.that the men OF Thomas
army had been delnoralzed by the battle OF Chick
amauga, and that he feared they could not be got
out OF tier trenches TO assume the offensive But
when Woods and Shefidan's divisions moved out
OF Chattanooga on the 2:}d OF November, lSEi they
moved with such precision and parade that the
rebels thought IL was but the beginning OI a for
NAL review.
Gen. Howard, who had but just arrived from the
Army OF the Potomac, ciles out In admiration,
"This is magnificent. Is this the way your West
ern troops go into actfone"
Next day they took the lower line OF rife pits
BY gallant assault, under a numerous fire, and
without orders, with a dash ana an ei0n that even
the veterans OF Ney might envy, they pushed their
regiments like wedges, with the colors at the
points, steadily up 10 the second line OF rife pits;
then over these, on TO the strong entertainments
at the top OF the ridge, and even these they car
ried by their fierce assault.
Uniform the oh universal vn q
bravery OF the men, that 10 this day IL hardly
be said to be decided which regiment or which IL
vision was first TO the crest. Indeed, IL almost
an empty honor so near We're all alike In less
than an hour Woods and Sheridan's division lost
2.2S7 In killed and wounded, bn NOT one srdggier.
All without orders IL has parallel In history.
We who know that ridge. those OF Us who dur
ing the dreary months between Chickamauga and
this assault, had looked upon its bald and rugged
sides, RISING almost precipitously 500 feet ia
height, shorn OF all timber ana all natural SHELTER
peopled with exultanJ foes and frcwning with
heavy batteries, which daily and nightly poured
their iron hail upon our beleaguered army, yet
MARVEL AT ITS CAPTURE
Nor do we wonder that when the silent little
general-hero OF Donelson though he was--saw the
charge begin, pregnant with such fatal results II
unsuccessful and seemingly SO hopeless, he
grily asked: 'Thomas, who ordered those men
up the rdge?' But may we not In pardonable
pride and without insinuation or criticism, ques-
ton what he thought then about "ThoInas' Sold
iers having been demorslized by the battle OF
Chickamauga," and whether he still ''leaIed they
could not DC got out OF their trenches 70 assume the
offensive"
IL was these same 'Thomas' soldiers" that had
taken the Ridge without orders-almost gatnst
orders-and as brave Gen. Tom Wood told them
when they mad reached the crest, had all rendered
themselves liable TO court-Iuartlal But they did
not much fear that, for they had seen him and
Sheridan In a neck and necl. race cnmolng up the
hill, among the foremost.
Far be IL from me TO disparage the aid we had
from the splendid veterans OF Sher1nanS army,
s'who with iron knuckles kept knocking at the
northern gate" And far be IL from me 10 omit
recognition OF those gallant soldiers from the Po-
tomac who, under fighting Joe Hooker, had Joined
US on the right, and the nrst act OF tins great
battle drama had shaken down the Johnnies from
Old Lookout. True men and tried were they.
Drawer men never moved 10 battle. To the undy-
ing wreaths OF glory they have won we add our
willing tribute. But they know the truth whereof
we speak, that the Army OF the Cumberland took
Missionary Ridge, and gladly add their testimony
to the superb valor OF the heroic deed.
Splendid as was the personnel OF that army ft
could never have accomplished such results but
for its commanders and In these II was most FOR.
tunate. The orator paid loyal tribute to each Of
the great commanders OF the army. but as ali
Army OF the Cumberland men do, reserved his
most affectionaue praise for Gen. Thomas the IDOL
OF the army.
GEN. SHERMAN sPEAKR
After the grafton Gen sherman spoke briefly ana
stirrngly, thanking the citizens or washington
for their welcome 70 the Army OF the Cumberland.
81 suppose he said turning to the veterans
fOba<inued ON Fr5fh Ruoal